Testudinidae

(Jrt)

Testudinidae
The family of testudinidés (Testudinidae) form of a taxon tortoise. The family Testudinidae contains approximately 40-50 genera and 11 species, according to the sources. It is the family of the Star of Madagascar tortoise (Geochelone radiata).

Characteristics
These turtles have shells ranging from less than 12 cm (Homopus) to 130 cm (Geochelone). The shell is composed of a vaulted carapace, and a plastron usually without articulation. Only Pyxis and Testudo have a hinged plastron, and have a carapace Kinixys articulated. Adapting to life on earth results in thick, strong legs, fingers courts including four on the hind legs.

Food
Turtles are primarily herbivores and consume grass, flowers, succulent plants, fruit,… though some species feed on carrion.

Reproduction
Some females of some species can lay several times in the same season.

Ecology
The turtles are living on earth, without the need for the permanence of a watercourse to live.

Distribution
They are found in their natural environment (such as hot deserts, tropical forests or in Mediterranean) in the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and on the islands of Madagascar, the Galapagos and the Seychelles. They disappeared in the Mascarenes. They are often endemic.

It is the family of the only species of turtle native of France, Hermann tortoise (Testudo hermanni).

Phylogénétique

The Testudinidae are closely linked to the turtle pond (Emydidae), which are part of the same family of super-Testudinoidea. These turtles are many fossils, and the oldest (Geochelone majusculus) date of the Éocène. The kind Manouria is considered the oldest.

List of genres

* Chersina Gray, 1831 - Turtle ploughshare of South Africa (1 case).
* Geochelone Fitzinger, 1835 - (11 species).
* Gopherus Rafinesque, 1832 - (4 species).
* Homopus Duméril and Bibron, 1834 - (5 species).
* Indotestudo Lindholm, 1929 - (2 species).
* Kinixys Bell, 1827 - (4 species).
* Malacochersus Lindholm, 1929 - (1 case).
* Manouria Gray, 1852 - (2 species).
* Psammobates Fitzinger, 1835 - (3 species).
* Pyxis Bell, 1827 - (2 species).
* Testudo Linnaeus, 1758 - (5 species).
* Cylindraspis (extinct)

Symbolism
This is the animal which is said to be the slowest. In the idiom animal, saying that someone ahead at a snail's pace is unflattering. By contrast, Tazio Nuvolari, race car, won a prize in the shape of a turtle in gold to showcase his exploits speed.

Menace
The conservation is needed for many of the turtles and the impact of collection for the trade has a negative impact even if it is not well known. In the USA, hunting snakes in doorbell also cause the demise of Gopherus polyphemus.

The turtles are often adopted as animals for company. An often illegal trade in these species may endanger the survival of the animals in their natural habitat.

The tortoise is also affected by road accidents (also known as roadkill). The species involved in traffic accidents vary depending on the region. These are indeed vulnerable species due to their slow and are therefore not able to avoid vehicles, and they feel protected by their carapace.

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